Take the guess work out and learn the three energy systems of the human body. That will help determine your rest times.

What are they? I have a feeling the central nervous system has something to do with it also.

I just hate sitting there looking around doing nothing. Some fuk is bound to start a conversation even looking at my earplugs in my ears.... Usually rest is as long as it takes to switch plates for me.

On light days, I rest about 1 minute between sets. On regular days, I rest between 90 seconds and 2 minutes between sets. The exception to this is when I am doing heavy leg presses and squats. Then I rest about 3 minutes or until my breathing returns to normal. What I hate is when someone engages me in conversation between sets and I lose count of how long I rested. Wearing my ipod shuffle helps keep folks from talking to me.

Right now I am resting for three weeks. I planned to take a week off, then I had a bunch of stuff get in the way of going to the gym and now my fucking back is out. Guess that's what I get for being lazy! As per usual, I have lost about 5 lbs. It is going to take me a week or two to get back to were I was before this holiday.

The common accepted theory of building and increasing lasting muscle mass is to accomplish the most work/effort in the shortest period of time. One overused example might be that short distance sprinters have larger and more muscular calves and legs than long distance runners. Some researchers also suggest that sets of 3 reps, preformed at a quick pace, is all that is needed for strength and muscle size development.

Given that each of us have different responses to physical stress and recovery, it would pretty much be a question of what works for you and what doesn't. General rule of thumb would be 90 seconds between sets and 3 minutes between exercises (if working the same body part). Doesn't seem to matter if doing a heavy compound movement or a lighter exercise, just keep a going pace during the training session.

Some BB'ers will take 45 seconds between sets. 30 seconds may be the extreme for short term special programs..or no rest between sets (or exercises) when on advanced programs like SS, tri, quad or giant sets. All a true TUT (Time Under Tension) protocol for working out.

Some of the old timers would take 10 to 15 minutes between sets. Usually when doing extreme heavy compound exercises. Three to 4 hour workouts were common, back in the day, but maybe 3 or 4 exercise in the total workout.

Again it pretty much all comes down to the "what works for you, works for you" thing. Just got to check different rest time schemes out for yourself. Like everything else in BB'ing or lifting. Good Luck.

X2......I believe in being fully rested before commencing the next set.

So does Lee Labrada!!! No need to rush into the next set.

Actually, no. Lee Lebrada was a strong advocate of Reverse Pyramid training in the latter part of his career, with rest periods of 45 seconds to 1 minute max. Light warmup, then move to heaviest weight for 8-10 reps, then decrease weight 10-15% each set.

For me, a 2 minute rest between sets when I am working a large muscle group, such as quads is about all I can stand. I am very impatient and therefore don't like standing around between sets. I never time myself between sets when the exercise isn't compound or otherwise taxing in some way. However, by the time one returns the weight to the weight stack and picks up the next weight they have effectively rested anyway. Even when doing heavy leg presses, by the time you load some more weight on the machine, you probably already rested up enough.

Actually, no. Lee Lebrada was a strong advocate of Reverse Pyramid training in the latter part of his career, with rest periods of 45 seconds to 1 minute max. Light warmup, then move to heaviest weight for 8-10 reps, then decrease weight 10-15% each set.

Pre contest he would rest 45 seconds to a minute.....but off season he would rest at least 2 minutes.

I usually like to mix up the rest periods. Sometimes I'll do a superset with multiple exercises which means a quicker rest period, but with isolated or large muscle exercises I like to take at least a minute and a half rest. I find that for me personally, if lifting becomes cardio due to lack of resting periods then you need more rest.

What is the ideal rest time between sets probably varies from person to person. Someone once advised me that the rest time is over as soon as your breathing returns to normal and your muscles begin to relax. Applying this principal, I rest anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. The longer rest time is mainly when doing either heavy leg presses and squats or doing these lighter with really high reps....like 25. My breathing is somewhat compromised, if I don't rest at least two minutes when doing these, I start getting a little light headed.

oh yeah let me laugh a little more....if you are natural follow the super triple drop set and rest for 1 minute on the clock between sets it's gonna produce so much test and gh you are literally gonna mutate...

this type of propaganda bullshit is what utterly disgusts me in this very industry because its what causing delusional and unrealistic goals on teens and natural trainees, average joes etc and how gym folklore and rumors got started